Xiao clutched his head.
His head hurt.
That was Xiao's first thought when he woke up.
His second thought was: Where am I?
Xiao sprang straight up from the floor, drawing the Primordial Jade Winged-Spear and standing guard.
Even after discovering that this was merely a room at Wangshu Inn, Xiao still did not dare let his guard down.
Only when he saw Jiang Xiaofeng lying motionless on the bed did he slowly calm down.
Xiao walked over to the bed.
Jiang Xiaofeng's clothes had long since become tattered, and yesterday, they had been splattered with a great deal of Hilichurl blood.
After all, at the very beginning, when Jiang Xiaofeng killed Hilichurls in melee combat, he had switched straight into The Beheaded's classic skin. Now, however, he was using the third body he had seized, and since its clothes looked rather nice, he had not changed them.
Precisely because of that, the clothes could not repair themselves. Now they were so torn they were almost unwearable.
But Jiang Xiaofeng had stopped caring about that problem long ago. In his eyes, as long as his crotch was covered, it did not count as indecent exposure...
But Xiao did not think so.
He simply felt that this fellow looked a little too miserable.
At least judging by appearances alone, he looked even more miserable than Xiao did.
Xiao at least had a clean, cool-looking outfit...
Suddenly, Xiao felt that something was wrong.
No!
Normally, at a time like this, I would never think about such things!
I should be suffering from karmic debt!
Could it be... this fellow!
Xiao looked at the still-sleeping Jiang Xiaofeng and shook his head.
It shouldn't be him.
I must have fallen under the assault of karmic debt again.
I just need to break through it once more.
Just as Xiao closed his eyes, intending to summon his yaksha mask...
A sweet fragrance drifted into his nose.
Xiao's eyes instantly widened.
"This is..."
Xiao looked at the small bowl of almond tofu and swallowed.
At that moment, our protagonist woke up too.
"Ahh~ That was a good sleep..."
Jiang Xiaofeng climbed out of bed.
Then Jiang Xiaofeng noticed Xiao as well.
But greeting him was not the first thing Jiang Xiaofeng wanted to do.
Jiang Xiaofeng stretched, forcing his upper body backward.
Only after hearing a crack did Jiang Xiaofeng straighten up.
"Xiao, how do you feel now?"
"How does it feel not to have thousands of years of karmic debt tormenting you?"
Jiang Xiaofeng asked.
Xiao looked at Jiang Xiaofeng.
"So it really was you."
"You can actually do something like this... It's unbelievable..."
Seeing Xiao's astonished expression, Jiang Xiaofeng smiled.
Never forget that, besides Conqueror of Demons and Guardian Yaksha, Xiao had another title: "young adeptus."
His height was one reason, but more importantly, there was Xiao's life story.
When Xiao reached adolescence, he had followed Rex Lapis and become a Guardian Yaksha.
So one could say that Xiao's age had been frozen at that moment.
Because of this, Xiao had never experienced the things a normal boy his age should have done.
It made sense. He had followed Rex Lapis, become a Guardian Yaksha, and gained a long lifespan, while his contract required him to protect Liyue Harbor.
How could Xiao have had the time to experience the things a boy should experience?
Never revere someone simply because they possessed great power. Perhaps, stripped of that power, they were merely a bard, an ordinary boy, a country girl out of step with the times, or a traveler who did not fit into the world...
Jiang Xiaofeng said to Xiao, "Now, even if karmic debt troubles you again, you won't have to worry like you used to."
"Oh, don't worry. Whenever you want to go back to being a normal human, just go take a stroll around Liyue Harbor."
"After all, my weapon has already swallowed the karmic debt on you."
"You don't need to worry about karmic debt. If anything, negative energy like karmic debt is food for this thing..."
"Hey, hey, don't look at me with that questioning gaze. I'm not so idle that I'd go release this karmic debt in Liyue Harbor. After all, old Rex Lapis is still alive..."
"All right, stop glaring at me so fiercely. I know you revere Rex Lapis. Since you don't have to fear karmic debt now, go have a look around Liyue Harbor."
"If you have a problem, go find Ganyu. You taught her things before, after all, so by all rights, she ought to..."
Jiang Xiaofeng suddenly stopped.
Xiao had long since picked up the bowl of almond tofu and was eating with relish, sitting in a chair and watching Jiang Xiaofeng chatter on and on. Then Jiang Xiaofeng suddenly stopped.
Puzzled, Xiao could not help asking, "What's wrong?"
Looking at Xiao, Jiang Xiaofeng suddenly said, "Xiao."
"If we fought, who do you think would beat whom?"
Xiao shook his head. "I don't know."
"If you want to know, we can go outside and have a fight to find out."
"Still, our fighting styles are different. You can't really describe it in terms of who's stronger or weaker. You could only say each has its merits."
Jiang Xiaofeng nodded, then asked, "Then, you and Ganyu..."
Jiang Xiaofeng stopped.
Right, our fighting styles are different. Ganyu shot me down with one arrow because I stupidly ran into it myself. That doesn't mean Xiao can hit me!
In other words...
Ha, so Ganyu can't beat me after all!
At that thought, Jiang Xiaofeng felt his mood improve.
Then Jiang Xiaofeng stood up from the bed.
"Xiao, you've been a huge help."
"Thanks for the pointers."
"I'm going to Liyue Harbor. Want to come take a look with me?"
Xiao hesitated, but still shook his head.
"I'll keep dealing with the monsters nearby."
"If I get the chance later, I'll go take a look myself."
Jiang Xiaofeng nodded.
"All right, then I'll be off."
"Until we meet again."
With that, Jiang Xiaofeng was about to leave the room.
"Wait!"
Jiang Xiaofeng turned back, only for a dark green mask to come flying toward him.
Jiang Xiaofeng looked at Xiao.
"This is my token. You have my recognition."
"Thank you."
Xiao was looking out the window, so Jiang Xiaofeng could not see his expression.
But it looked like Xiao was probably blushing...
You're breaking character, Adeptus Xiao.
Somewhat speechless, Jiang Xiaofeng nodded.
After thinking for a moment, he still walked back, rubbed Xiao's head, said, "Farewell," and left the room.
Good thing the door was open the whole time, or I might have kicked it out of habit...
Jiang Xiaofeng thought.
Xiao was still holding half a bowl of almond tofu, showing no reaction at all to Jiang Xiaofeng touching his head.
Xiao turned his head, looked at the half bowl of almond tofu, and ate it in tiny bites.
You can't eat something delicious all at once, or there won't be any left...
As he ate, Xiao's tears began to fall.
He could no longer remember the last time he had eaten his favorite food so free of worry.
Because of his karmic debt, no matter what Xiao was doing, he had to devote a large portion of his attention to resisting its assault.
Over his long life, there had been times when he could no longer suppress his karmic debt and went berserk.
But each time, the sound of a zither had soothed him.
Xiao held the bowl, tears streaming down his face.
"Bosacius, Bonanus, Menogias, Indarias..."
"I miss you..."
Still holding the bowl, Xiao scooped up the almond tofu, now soaked with tears, spoonful by spoonful, and ate it bite by bite.
"I can't waste food..."